The road to local body elections in Maharashtra has been cleared following a recent Supreme Court directive. In response, the state government has initiated key changes in the ward structure across several municipal corporations, including a major announcement for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
According to the new plan, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will undergo a fresh ward restructuring. In contrast, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will retain the same ward structure that was implemented in 2017. Additionally, a new ward structure will be introduced in nine municipal corporations across the state where boundaries have recently been expanded—this includes Pune and other major cities. However, in 17 municipal corporations, the existing ward structure will remain unchanged.
The Supreme Court has mandated that elections must be held within the next four months. In line with this directive, the state government has finalized a ward formation program, and related orders are expected to be issued soon.
The Mahayuti government has also decided to continue with the four-member ward system for this election cycle, a model previously followed during the 2017 municipal elections. Meanwhile, new ward formations will be implemented specifically in municipalities that had previously operated under a two-member ward system and have now seen boundary extensions.
This decision marks a crucial step in preparing for the upcoming civic polls and reflects the state’s effort to balance continuity with necessary administrative reforms.